Letter:
Dear Parents,
Over the years we have seen that with the increased pressure in meeting AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress), homework has also been emphasized. This may have come in response to the call for “higher expectations,” comparisons of student performance with others across the state and country, and the pressures created with state testing programs such as KPREP.
However, the research is unable to produce evidence that homework improves student performance at the elementary level. The research is telling us that if we want to improve attitudes, mental and physical health and academic performance, we as parents need to promote the following:
• Children need to play outside for at least an hour after the school day.
• Dinner (with added fruits and vegetables) with your family at least 4 times a week.
• Go to bed early (10-12 hours of sleep a night for kids).
• Limit television, video games and computer time an hour before bedtime.
• Emphasize reading every evening.
At Natcher Elementary, homework will only consist of reading each night, studying for upcoming tests, and any special projects that are assigned throughout the year. Students who did not finish work during the school day, will have an opportunity to complete work before school and during the Response to Intervention (RTI) block. If a child is not completing work during the day on a regular basis, then we will have a parent meeting to see why the child is not getting the material done during school hours and come up with a plan together to help meet the child's needs.
We are going to ask that parents help us promote reading at home. Our school wide reading program, “Reading Street,” will be a great way to encourage this. We will also be sending home a great list of books for each grade level to use for reading at home. Our children are making great gains in the area of reading. A key component to making these gains is the work that parents and children do at home. We do thank you for your help.
We will continue to monitor this policy and see if revisions need to occur. Again, thanks for everything you do to help our children, staff and school be a great place for learning.
Sincerely,
Matt Thornhill Principal
Natcher Elementary
Revised Policy:
HOMEWORK POLICY
Homework will only consist of enriching exercises of lessons learned throughout the year. Students will have an opportunity to complete work during the school day. Students who do not complete the enriching exercises of lessons learned during the school day will be expected to complete them at home. If a child is not completing work during the day on a regular basis, then we will have a parent meeting to see why the child is not getting the material done during school hours.
Handbook statement:
Natcher Elementary encourages all students to set high academic standards and to be invested in their own learning. This requires students to develop and refine such habits as Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, and Put First Things First. Time will be provided during the school day to complete work. However, students who do not complete the enriching exercises of lessons learned during the school day will be expected to complete them at home. Teachers may also, at their discretion, provide opportunities throughout the year for students to improve poor scores. However, Natcher Elementary supports the professional opinion of the teacher to make decisions in the best interest of each student regarding the implementation of this practice.
WHY I'M QUITTING HOMEWORK {AND WHAT I'M DOING INSTEAD}
John Hattie on BBC Radio 4: “Homework in primary school has an
effect of zero”